You don’t always have to say no to pets

Oct 19, 2017

Cuddles, and the chirpy sound of your pet is something you generally would love waking up to and for sure lights the day up. Cancer treatment imposes a few restrictions on how it once was. I had a friend who I lost to cancer, she was someone who loved the noise around her, and loved pets. She got a pug after a couple years into her diagnosis. Even though this isn’t the most advisable thing to do, she went with the flow, BUT - took a truck load of precautions.

Her family created for her an environment which wasn’t just pet friendly, but also suited her new needs. They made sure the pet wasn’t on her bed and the sofa because that’s the area she would spend most of her time in. Avoiding the bacteria was their priority. When new to cancer and all that it brings, you’re never aware of what allergies or reactions you may start having, because the medicine has a lot of side effects. But, pets are great to create the right kind of distraction. While knowing that, you’d need to be aware that their fur carries germs and they keep climbing shelves too. To all this chaos, her brother always mentioned how he would find a hamster for an ideal pet. Because it would be in a caged area and not in contact with the entire house.

Through Chemo, medications change now and then, so you never know when it makes your system weak. So if you don’t already have a pet it is not completely advisable since you are not used to maintaining one. You are prone to infections, and you have to avoid skin cuts and sharp objects. Your immunity is low, so if there is fur, you have to worry about hygiene too. Pets have sharp claws, they are also teething and would seek for attention, which isn’t the best time to be around them since your system isn’t capable of all the work. Never say no to pets, but make sure to be safe around them.